Saturday, August 20, 2011

There are more successful schools than you think (see for yourself)

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Gallup.com August 19, 2011

Parents, Americans Much More Positive About Local Schools

Americans continue to grade nation's schools much more negatively than local schools

by Shane J. Lopez
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans, and parents in particular, evaluate their community schools more positively than in any year since Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK) and Gallup started asking Americans to grade local schools in 1984. An all-time high of 37% of parents give their child's school an A grade, up sharply from 19% in 2007. Just 1% of parents assign a failing grade to their child's school.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/149093/Parents-Americans-Positive-Local-Schools.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Education

 

Rhee and Ravitch, leading schools figures, square off in Martha's Vineyard

Washington Post By Lyndsey Layton, Published: August 18

EDGARTOWN, MASS. — It wasn't quite the Smackdown in Edgartown, but two leading figures in the national education debate politely collided here Thursday over the causes of failing schools and the best ways to rescue them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/rhee-and-ravitch-leading-schools-figures-square-off-in-marthas-vineyard/2011/08/18/gIQAXqVcOJ_story.html?wpisrc=emailtoafriend

 

Tuition vouchers are unconstitutional

Opinion by George Bonekemper
The continuing battle over taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers, fueled by wealthy out-of-state billionaires, has become a distraction from more important political action items, including developing the commonwealth's economy, creating new jobs, and continuing the underreported academic progress made by public schools in recent years.
Taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers are unconstitutional in the commonwealth, unwanted by the public, unproven in promoting student achievement, untimely in a shrinking economy, and unaccountable to the public in governance, finance, and academic results. The only real choice is the schools, who determine whether they do or do not admit students.

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/20/2011

There are more successful schools than you think (see for yourself)

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss
This was written by Sean Slade, director of Healthy School Communities at ASCD, a global association empowering educators to support the success of each learner.
By Sean Slade
If you listened just to news about public education or read some of the briefs coming out from the U.S. Department of Education, you could be forgiven for thinking that that the country is overrun by "dropout factories" and "failing schools," and that we are inundated by schools that need a dramatic "turnaround" or even a "takeover." You would be justified in thinking that the state of our nation's schools was in total decline and that there was little reason for cheer.
Actually, the truth is very different. ASCD just launched an interactive mapshowcasing outstanding schools around the country, capturing the stories of great schools, districts, and communities exhibiting and working toward a whole-child approach to education. These examples are changing the debates around education in their communities, and they deserve to have their voices heard.

 

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